Urban Development Measures

The urban development measure is an instrument in special urban development legislation that allows the swift acquisition for building purposes of previously unused land, waste land, or land presently used wrongly. It serves to make building land available for residential buildings, workplaces, and communal facilities just as much as the financing of municipal development costs. Sections 165-171 of the German Town and Country Planning Code (BauGB) form the legal basis of urban development measures, which are regulated on the basis of modernization law. Here a by-law is again required.

An urban development measure can only be implemented if it is required in order to augment the well-being of the general public. In other words, there must be significant public demand for a large volume of apartments, workplaces, and municipal facilities. Moreover, it must be certain that the measure can be implemented swiftly, that the municipality can in the interim purchase the land, and that financing is available. The measure is financed by the difference resulting from the increase in value of the plots of land:

The municipality buys the land to be developed at a price influenced by the potential development (initial value) and

sells it after redevelopment at the price of developed building plots (final value).

All aspects occasioned by the measure are financed by the differential between the initial and the final value, for example

the development of the area

the social infrastructure with schools and kindergartens

parks and areas of greenery.

Owners can resist the purchase if they are willing and in a position themselves to conduct the development (of partial areas) in accordance with the plans. In such cases an avoidance agreement is reached and compensation payable.

A development measure has been executed in Frankfurt/Main: The “Riedberg" urban development measure for the creation of residential building land.
The resolution covering annulment of the statute governing the formal definition of the urban development zone “Am Riedberg” was announced on June 28,.2016 in the City of Frankfurt’s official gazette.

Furthermore the City Council decided to conduct preparatory investigations for a second urban development measure "Between Huthpark, the Main Cemetery, and Günthersburgpark"; which began on March 29, 2011. Partially boxing over the A661 highway is intended to create new quality in terms of urban fabric and the natural surroundings, major links, as well as new areas for housing around the districts of Bornheim and Seckbach.

Further information about the development measure is available at planAS.